North Carolina

There’s a blush color story throughout.

Sam’s rental apartment is partially underground, so some parts don’t get a lot of light! Along with dealing with dark corners, he’s also had to get creative with creating privacy, storage solutions, and more.

“My home is a true reflection of our family — vibrant, creative, and ever-evolving. Color is at the heart of it all.”

There are two wolves within the homeowner of this 540-square-foot, 1920s apartment in Charlotte: "One is a minimalist, and one is a maximalist.”

Lauren Crawford said she broke the design rule about not changing too much in a rental apartment.

Except for a few pieces of cookware, all of the furniture, wall art, linens, trinkets, rugs, and even plants have been found secondhand in this stylish rental apartment.

See inside this four-bedroom North Carolina house that’s eclectic and colorful but not quite maximalist.

Reby Hardy and her daughter went viral for their "Life of a Gothic Baby" series, where you can see inside her dark and dramatic nursery.

After leaving New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic, all this homeowner wanted was natural light.

Despite being off-grid, this family’s North Carolina cabin provides all the comfort and convenience of a more traditional home.

A 10-year-old fiddle leaf fig named Glory takes center stage among the many plants.

The rental loft holds incredible architectural character, like 20-foot ceilings, original metal beams, wood planks, incredible original bricks, and a 15-foot paneled window that bathes the living room with sunshine.

When Brandon started working with designer Amber on his North Carolina home, he didn't let any traditional decorating "rules" get in his way. They worked together to create a space that is clean and modern but lets his personality shine.

East Fork Pottery's founders Connie and Alex Matisse share this incredibly cozy cabin in the woods with their two young daughters (and lots of fantastic ceramic dish and tableware).

Though this ranch house was in rough shape when Marie bought it a few years ago, she had fallen in love with its bones, the big backyard, and the potential she saw in it. She's redone almost every room in the house!

Bobbi, the creator behind earring brand Bobbi Made This, makes work that spreads joy "one ear at a time." And the colorful and fun home she shares with her family spreads joy one room, paint color, and art piece at a time!

Jessamyn Stanley is an author, wellness advocate, and co-founder of The Underbelly and We Go High. She shares a tour of her poly family's four-bedroom, two-bathroom rental house as well as a peek into her family's extra meaningful holiday celebrations this year.

The small house is also proof that minimalism doesn't have to mean boring.

"Our home was built in 1911 and belongs to an entire street of similarly built mill houses and I love that it has been around for over 100 years."

Bought sight-unseen, before the renovation this house was a mix of mid-century and mid-1980s design—with endless knotty pine and old, smelly carpet throughout!

TaLaya and Kerrick inherited this house from his grandparents and have spent the past two years putting their stamp on the space.

In this new 6-part series, we meet the people redefining what home means today. Home is where YOU make it.

Name: Megan and Todd Walsh, one cat, and three dogs Location: West Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 7 months; Rented Applying a fresh coat of white paint on the walls in each room was the first thing Todd and Megan, owners of Atomic Furnishing, did to their new rental—a simple and inexpensive change that created the perfect backdrop to highlight the couple’s colorful collection of mid-century furnishings, rugs and art.

Name: Letitia Walker and Whitney Shroyer, two dogs, and about 250 sock monkeys! Location: West Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,386 square feet Years lived in: Owned 16 This idiosyncratic, hip, little home in West Asheville is owned by Letitia and Whitney — a couple of collectors who love found objects, abstract expressionism art, and music.

Kathryn and Emilio’s North Carolina home doesn’t feature one specific style. It showcases a harmonious blend of traditional, contemporary and modern styles that provides the family and their guests with a breath of fresh air. Guests are also delighted to find surprises in every corner if they look close enough, such as the Art Deco floor lamp in the living room or geometric lamps in the bedroom. You can now shop the style using the links below!

Name: Maria Rusafova and Jakub Markulis Location: Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 11 years, own Though Maria and Jakub’s house is situated in a dense neighborhood, it often goes undetected — a mark of success for the architects who designed the house with the goal of integrating the structure as peacefully as possible into the urban forest. In fact, not a single tree on the property was disturbed.

Name: Molly Trask and Trevor Price (plus dogs Eleanor Roosevelt and Martha Washington and cat Abigail Adams) Location: Durham, North Carolina Size: 1,040 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Molly writes: “Our home is a 1,040 square foot converted warehouse apartment in the oldest standing building in Durham, NC, an old tobacco town currently undergoing a brilliant revival.

Name: Danielle and Justin McKim and Great Dane Charlotte Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Danielle and Justin have a home that could not be more full of their own individual style and personality. Collecting affordable pieces and turning them into magic was once a hobby of Danielle’s that soon became her career as a designer and local storefront owner here in Charlotte.

Name: Jessica, Andrew, and Gus Ullom Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Size: 1,750 square feet, built in 1965 Years lived in: Owned 2 years From the outside, you would definitely expect a cute new family of three to live here. But you might be surprised at the beautiful creativity happening inside! Jessica and her husband Andrew both work with their hands on a daily basis.

Name: Kate Sykes Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Size: 840 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2.5 months To find her new apartment, Kate bypassed typical rental search engines and opted to drive around her ideal neighborhood in Raleigh, scouting beautiful facades and “For Rent” signs. That’s how she landed this home just three months ago. How she managed to pull it together so quickly and skillfully speaks to her background in design.

Name: Ariene C. Bethea and Daren Z. Bethea II (and Mini) Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 3,100 Square Feet Years lived in: 9 years, owned There are dreamers and there are doers. Ariene Bethea fits into the latter. Ariene brought her dream to life through her designer furnishings storefront, Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio. She has been called a “design maven,” whose arrival is “changing the face of design in the South.

Name: Nolan and Natalie Smith Location: Plaza Midwood — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,136 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting In the times of meeting your mate online, Natalie and Nolan did it the old-fashioned way — through mutual friends in Nashville, Tennessee. The couple has now made a home in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a “plain” apartment they’ve added tons of color and life to.

Name: Melanie Branam, husband Scott and brand new baby Molly Location: Myers Park — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 4 1/2 years, renting You can immediately smell the flowers when you walk into Melanie’s home, which is only natural given she is one of Charlotte’s premier florists. Melanie is the talented woman behind New Creations Flowers and her 1,600 square foot home is not only where she lives, it also serves as her floral studio.

Name: Stephanie Whedbee Location: Raleigh, NC Size: 750 square feet Years Lived In: Less than 1 year, renting “I’ve lived in Raleigh for four years and this is the first place that truly feels 100% me,” confesses graphic designer Stephanie Whedbee. “Since moving in last fall, I have obsessed over styling and decorating my duplex.

Name: Katie, Anthony, Isabelle and Freya Miller, with dogs Oliver and Tulip Location: Belmont, North Carolina Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Katie’s friends are right, walking into her lovely duplex in Belmont, North Carolina is an immensely welcoming experience. Maybe it is the two insistent yet extremely friendly dachshunds that greet you upon arrival, or maybe it’s the comforting furnishings and thoughtful art that permeate her abode.

Name: Dawn Sweitzer of Notre Monde Location: High Point, North Carolina Years working in: 5 years, owned Dawn Sweitzer is the artist behind Notre Monde, a brand known for textiles, furniture, and accessories like trays, art, mirrors, and more. Her designs are distinct, as well as modern, minimal, and a little bohemian, too.

Name: Natalie Pollard, owner of Villagers, and cat Melon Location: Candler, North Carolina Size: 265 square feet Years lived in: 6 months Natalie’s home may only be eight feet wide, but it is packed with inspiring design details and unexpected features for a tiny home including a large side entrance, a central bedroom loft, and the creative use of heirloom furniture pieces to contribute to that familiar feeling of home.

Name: Jordan and Brittany Griggs Location: Charlotte, North Carolina—but currently traveling the country! Size: 276 square feet Years lived in: Owned since December 2015 Brittany, a newborn/family photographer and business coach, and Jordan, a banker-turned-aspiring golf pro, traded in their Charlotte, North Carolina home for life on the road to chase Jordan’s dreams.

Name: Sheena Armstrong, husband Jason and Riley the dog Location: Currently in Southport, North Carolina Size: 180 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned The dynamic duo behind Mavis the Airstream sold this first home—a 1975 Airstream Overlander—last spring, and are currently renovating a 1977 Airstream Sovereign they are calling “Mavis 2.0.” (The original Mavis went to a good home, don’t worry.) Mavis 1.

Name: Sara Kate Eubanks Location: Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented On a Saturday morning, Sara Kate can be found rocking heels, a favorite shade of lipstick, thrifted denim, and a baseball cap. She’s a confident woman who isn’t afraid to mix things up—just so long as there is a little sophistication and class in every combination.

Name: Ethan Morris and Tarleton Walmsley-Morris and their cats, Tozer and Etta Location: Asheville, North Carolina Size: 980 square feet Years lived in: 6 years: Rented Antique dealers Tarleton and Ethan have filled their home with many of their favorite finds, and the result is an eclectic mix of art, textiles, and Mid-century furnishings.

Name: Morgan Fender, Owner of Bomisch, Brandon and Ed (the dog) Location: Montford — Asheville, North Carolina Size: 842 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year, 2 months While the couple was living in a downtown Asheville loft, they signed the lease immediately when they noticed a house on a corner lot in a desirable neighborhood pop up on Craigslist.

Name: Brian and April Location: Villa Heights — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,940 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Brian and April have done an incredible job of turning their first home into their own. Since purchasing in 2014, they have added fun pops of color and personality into almost every room and turned it into a happy haven in the Plaza Midwood area in Charlotte.

Looking for inspiration on how to bring color and personality into your home? Look no further than April and Brian’s North Carolina home for heaps of ideas! Check our their resource lists to shop their style and make your space bold, bright, and fun!

Name: Ana and Mansour (and Molly) Location: NoDa — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5 years Ana and Mansour have a home filled with pieces that each tell a story. Ana is a talented writer, originally from Dominican Republic, and travels often. Mansour is a Harvard graduate from Washington DC who enjoys biking in his free time. They are both intelligent and hilarious…and the corner garden in their living room is a dream.

Name: Erin D. Brittain Location: North Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Renting 5 years Erin’s home is a playful blend of her talents as an antique dealer, a seamstress, and an interior designer. This is evident in the fearless mix of velvet, ikat, plaids, florals, and geometrics of which she uses to sew her bedding, draperies, and pillows.

Name: Seana Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: Own. I am a first-time home owner! Seana does not claim to be a design expert, but she could have fooled us. As a corporate professional she spends her days in a more formal atmosphere, so her first house provides a unique canvas to express her creativity.

Name: Thomas and Amy Fitzpatrick, Aislinn, Sean and cairn terrier Jack Location: Highlands; North Carolina Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: less than a year; owned The Fitzpatricks live at 4,000 feet in the quaint mountain town of Highlands, North Carolina, a vacation respite for some 15,000 visitors each summer. But for Thomas and Amy, they enjoy the surrounding natural beauty year-round in their 1950s home which they’ve been transforming since they moved in last year.

Name: Katie Rozycki and Patrick Moore Location: Plaza Midwood — Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 702 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned Katie—a private school fundraiser, entrepreneur, and flower crown designer—and her audio engineer/tour manager boyfriend, Patrick Moore, completely overhauled this once-neglected one-bedroom loft in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Name: Katie Vie & Loren Wooten and their dog, Mathy Location: Asheville, NC Size: 1,400 square feet, including an unheated garage Years lived in: 6 months; Owned Though Katie designed this house and Loren crafted many of its details, they maintain a fluid relationship with it, saying, “This home is not our ‘baby’ — it’s not precious to us in that way. Instead, it’s our creative project where it’s okay if things aren’t perfect.

Name: Laura Evans and Blaine Perry and their cat, Honey Location: Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Historic divided-light windows, crystal door knobs, a brick fireplace, and picture rail molding are just some of the architectural details in Laura and Blaine’s all-white, all-natural 1920s-era home. Their edited decorating style leaves few layers to hide behind, imparting a meaningful weight to each element.

Name: James and Shanna Location: Durham, NC Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: Renting less than one year James is a production manager for Merge Records (you may know some of their artists – She & Him, Arcade Fire and Caribou, to name a few) and Cleveland Browns enthusiast. Shanna is the Director of Marketing for InMotionNow, a work management solutions company for creatives.

Name: Rob Maddox and Karie Reinertson, owners of Shelter Collective Location: Asheville, North Carolina Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; rented Rob and Karie have created a home that beautifully recounts their lives through displays of unique treasures and layers of textiles, many of which have been collected from family and friends.

Name: Kelley Bozarth, an environmental graphic designer, + Matthew Deal, a digital marketer Location: Downtown Salisbury, North Carolina Size: 1250 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; rented Living with a significant other for the first time, Kelley and Matt were pleasantly surprised to see how well their thrifted finds and hand-me-downs blended together. With their wedding on the horizon, Kelley and Matt have made this downtown rental into a home.

Name: Mia Cefkin Location: Franklin, North Carolina Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned A drive down (and up) windy mountain roads past farms, fields, and old country homesteads will bring you to an unexpectedly adorable log cabin; one that fortuitously persuaded Mia and her husband David to leave their urban Florida home of many years for the simple life in North Carolina.